The Importance of Emotions
Hi, my name’s Dr. Kelly Clark, and today I’m going to talk about the importance of emotions.
Before we dive in, I want to talk about what emotions are. Theorists have debated for a long time about what actually starts first—is it thoughts, or is it sensory experiences? This leads to the debate between top-down processing (thoughts first) versus bottom-up processing (sensory first).
Example: Seeing a Bear
Take the example of a bear coming through the trees—something I’ve experienced a few times while mountain biking. Cognitive theorists would argue that the thought of seeing the bear triggers an autonomic reaction—our body becomes alert, we feel fear, and then we act (like running away).
Other theorists argue that emotion begins with sensory input—you hear rustling in the woods, then see the bear, and only afterward interpret the situation as fear. These steps happen quickly, often imperceptibly, but the question remains: Does thought trigger emotion, or does sensory input trigger it?
Historical Context: Rationalism vs. Empiricism
This debate has roots in Western philosophy. During the Middle Ages, there was a debate between rationalism and empiricism.
You’ve likely heard of René Descartes, a scientist, philosopher, and mathematician. He argued that knowledge must be provable through doubt, which led to his famous Latin phrase:
Cogito, ergo sum – “I think, therefore I am.”
Descartes questioned whether we were living in a dream-like state (like in The Matrix), where senses deceive us. Even if our senses lie, the act of thinking proves we exist. Therefore, thoughts—regardless of whether they are true or false—are evidence of existence.
This formed the foundation of epistemology, or how we come to know the world.
- Rationalists, like Descartes, believed logic and thought are the best way to understand the world.
- Empiricists believed the most reliable way to understand reality is through sensory experience.
This tension continues to influence Western thinking.
Emotion in Western Society
In modern society, emotion is often viewed as secondary to thought. We hear expressions like:
- “I was thinking with my heart, not my head.”
- “I was overly emotional.”
These phrases suggest emotion clouds logic. But today, I want to discuss the benefits of emotion and how emotion may actually be primary.
Robert Zajonc and the Primacy of Emotion
Robert Zajonc, in his 1980 article The Primacy of Emotion, argued that emotion can occur without thought.
For example:
- In experiments, animals given a nausea-inducing substance would later avoid the food—without conscious thought.
- In unconscious patients, nausea still occurred, showing emotion without cognition.
Zajonc also argued:
- Visual processing in the brain can bypass thought, going straight to the amygdala in threatening situations—like seeing a bear.
- Drugs or electrical stimulation can trigger emotional responses without any conscious thought.
- Facial feedback studies showed that even forced smiles (e.g., holding a pen between teeth) led to positive emotions, while grimaces triggered negative ones—again, without thoughts involved.
These findings suggest that emotion is fundamental, fast, and doesn’t always require thought.
Emotion and Decision-Making
Neurologist Antonio Damasio found that people cannot make decisions without emotion. Even when people list pros and cons, emotion plays a crucial role in choosing between options.
Mood and Information Processing
Another research area focuses on how mood affects cognition:
- Positive moods lead to lighter, more spontaneous, and creative thinking—but also less thorough processing.
- Negative moods result in more accurate, detailed, and cautious thinking.
Real-Life Example: Timeshare Pitch
When you’re in Mexico and they offer you a piña colada, upbeat music, and a free breakfast before selling a timeshare—you’re in a positive mood, making you more open and impulsive.
If you were in a negative mood, you’d likely be more detail-oriented and skeptical of the offer.
Emotion and Memory
Emotion strengthens memory.
We remember:
- Emotional holidays with family.
- Painful breakups.
- Moments of fear or joy.
But mundane experiences—like withdrawing $10 from an ATM—are quickly forgotten. This shows how emotion enhances the encoding and recall of memories.
Emotion and Attention
Emotions also alert us to pay closer attention:
- In positive states, we feel safe and are more open and optimistic.
- In negative states, we become hyper-aware of potential threats.
This was adaptive for survival—if we sensed danger, our brains processed more detail to stay safe.
Mood-Congruent Memory
Moods influence the types of memories we recall.
- In a positive mood, we recall positive memories.
Example: On a vacation, you might remember another fun trip you had years ago. - In a negative mood, we recall negative memories.
Example: During a fight, you remember all the times someone let you down.
This is known as the mood-congruent effect. Being aware of this can help us challenge biased thinking—e.g., reminding ourselves of positive examples when we’re in a negative mood.
Emotions in Therapy and Panic Attacks
In therapy, I often see clients struggle to recall the thoughts before a panic attack. That’s because intense emotion can block cognitive recall.
Instead, I start with feelings—the body-based sensations like:
- Throat tightness
- Headache
- Dizziness
These somatic cues help people reconnect with the emotion (e.g., fear or sadness), and then uncover the triggering thoughts or events.
Feelings as Emotional Indicators
Feelings are bodily expressions of emotions.
Think about meeting someone attractive—you don’t assess them purely cognitively. You feel:
- Heart racing
- Sweaty palms
- Warmth in your chest
Those are feelings, and they’re critical in how we relate to others.
Emotion in Relationships
When we meet someone new, we don’t just assess a checklist:
- Professional?
- Well-dressed?
- Intelligent?
We ask ourselves implicitly:
“How do I feel about them?”
You’ve likely met someone and thought, “I don’t know why—I just don’t like them.”
This is emotional intuition at work.
Even when someone “looks good on paper,” if the emotional response isn’t there, we may not pursue a relationship. Emotion guides decisions in both romantic relationships and everyday life.
Final Thoughts
Emotion is not just a byproduct of thought—it’s often faster, more instinctive, and vital to our survival, memory, and decision-making.
So I encourage you:
Next time you feel something—pause and ask:
- What was the feeling?
- What was the emotion behind it?
- What thoughts or events preceded it?
Emotion is a powerful guide for navigating your life.
I’m Dr. Kelly Clark.
If you have any questions or want to connect, visit drkellyclark.com.